For what is one of the world’s most spectacular and busiest entertainment venues, the £125 million SSE Hydro in Glasgow required an acoustic solution that could deliver consistent high-quality sound for music and sport events within the arena bowl. Fire, acoustic and thermal insulation products manufacturer Siderise met the challenge.
Forming part of the redevelopment of Glasgow’s former docks and located adjacent to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, the Fosters + Partners’ designed SSE Hydro is a 25,000m2, 12,500 seat arena with an exterior façade which morphs into a massive multi-coloured screen displaying stunning light shows. Internally, this ambitious concrete framed structure benefits from innovative acoustic engineering which heightens the arena experience and provides a world class experience for guests.
To create a sonically pleasing environment, an acoustic performance upgrade was required to suit the complex geometry of the arena’s bespoke British Gypsum sloping fire-rated boarded plenum ceilings. As the ceilings’ design offered restricted access, an exclusively boarded solution would prove unsuitable. Siderise was approached by specialist contractor Roskel Contracts for its technical expertise in acoustics to find a bespoke solution that would meet the acoustic performance criteria requirements.
Siderise used its acoustic barrier/damping mat solution Siderise BM/P5/BOAK and BM/P10/BOAK. Overlapping sheets were fitted from below through the structural framework. The Siderise BM/P5/BOAK and BM/P10/BOAK sheets were fixed and sealed to provide a continuous membrane which could be shaped and installed to suit the services and structural elements. The result was a fully compliant system.
Mike McLaughlin, joint managing director of Roskel Contracts commented: “We came to Siderise on the Hydro Arena as we had concerns that a buildable solution, which met the acoustic performance criteria, could not practically be achieved with an exclusively boarded solution. Having worked with them previously we were confident that they had the range of products and the technical expertise to assist us in developing a practical solution and liaising with both the Architect and Acoustic Consultant. From concept, through mock-ups and the final site installation they provided us with good advice and back up on this extremely complex and challenging project.”
